New Hampshire Race for Governor

Colin Van Ostern wins the Democratic nomination for Governor in New Hampshire while results have still not come in for Ted Gatsas, Frank Edelblut, Chris Sununu and Jeanie Forrester who are vying for the Republican nomination.

(Published Tuesday, Sept. 13, 2016)

At a state party breakfast Wednesday morning, Sununu and Edelblut both said defeating Van Ostern is a top priority.

Sununu comes from one of New Hampshire's most prominent political families. He's the son of a former governor and brother of a former U.S. senator.

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Candidates Face Off in NH Primaries

Democratic and Republican voters in New Hampshire are choosing their nominees for governor and both houses of U.S. Congress.

(Published Tuesday, Sept. 13, 2016)

1:15 p.m.

Republican gubernatorial rivals Chris Sununu and Frank Edelblut will appear together for an afternoon news conference at the New Hampshire Statehouse.

Sununu has more votes in the primary contest but the race is within the eligible margin for a recount. Edelblut's campaign hasn't officially said if he'll ask for one. The Associated Press does not call races within the recount margin until a candidate declares he or she is not seeking one.

Guinta and Shea-Porter will face each other for a fourth time in November after Guinta barely staved off his GOP primary challenger, Rich Ashooh. His win marks a significant turnaround from last year, when top Republicans urged him to resign after the Federal Election Commission said he took illegal campaign donations from his parents.

Shea-Porter, who faced no opponents Tuesday, says Guinta's "brazen lies" have no place in New Hampshire. Guinta, meanwhile, says he's focused on public policy issues. When asked whether the scandal is behind him, he said the people have spoken.

With nearly all of the 300 precincts reporting, Sununu leads Edelblut by fewer than 1,000 votes. He's taken 30.6 percent, compared to Edelblut's 29.8 percent, of the Republican vote. Any margin below 1.5 percent qualifies for a recount under state law.

Edelblut's campaign has not commented on whether he will seek a recount. The Associated Press does not call races that are eligible for recounts until candidates declare they will not seek one.

At a state party breakfast Wednesday morning, Sununu and Edelblut both said defeating Democrat Colin Van Ostern is a top priority.

U.S. Rep. Frank Guinta has won his Republican primary, battling back from a campaign finance scandal and barely staving off his primary challenger, Rich Ashooh.

The race in New Hampshire's First Congressional District was too close to call until Wednesday morning, the day after the primary. Guinta's win marks a significant turnaround from last year, when top Republicans urged Guinta to resign after the Federal Election Commission said he took illegal campaign donations from his parents. And it sets him up to face Democrat Carol Shea-Porter for a fourth time.

Shea-Porter, who faced no opposition Tuesday, held the seat for two terms until Guinta defeated her in 2010. She beat him in 2012 to regain the seat, and he won it back in 2014.

The New Hampshire Republican primary race for governor hasn't been called, but both contenders are already going after their Democratic rival.

Frank Edelblut and Chris Sununu are speaking at the state Republican Party's unity breakfast. Both say it will be important to unite once the results are in to take on Democrat Colin Van Ostern.

Edelblut says Van Ostern is a "poser." And Sununu says he is a "rubber stamp" for Democratic Gov. Maggie Hassan's agenda.

Van Ostern and Sununu serve together on the Executive Council, a five-member body that approves gubernatorial appointments and large state contracts. Edelblut is a first-term state representative.

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8:45 a.m.

New Hampshire Republicans are gathering for their traditional "unity breakfast," though in two top races, it's unclear who they're uniting behind.

In the governor's race, the Republican contest remains tight between Executive Councilor Chris Sununu and state Rep. Frank Edelblut the morning after Tuesday's primary. Both men, along with fellow candidates Ted Gatsas and Jeanie Forrester, were at Wednesday's breakfast in Bedford.

Also in attendance were U.S. Rep. Frank Guinta and his primary challenger, Rich Ashooh. Their race remains close, though Ashooh conceded on Wednesday morning.

Guinta has struggled since last year, when the Federal Election Commission said he took illegal campaign donations from his parents. If he wins, he'll face Democrat Carol Shea-Porter for a fourth time.

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8 a.m.

Republican Rich Ashooh is conceding the 1st Congressional District race to incumbent Frank Guinta after the two were locked in a tight battle for the New Hampshire primary.

In a statement released Wednesday, Ashooh said a nearly 100-vote margin Tuesday night has now grown to several hundred as further returns have been counted. He says despite the close margin, he's conceding "so that the Republican ticket may immediately position itself for victory in November.

Guinta had been struggling since last year, when the Federal Election Commission said he took illegal campaign donations from his parents. There was no immediate word from Guinta on Ashooh's announcement.

Guinta, who is seeking a third, two-year term, will face Democratic challenger Carol Shea-Porter in November the fourth time they will battle for the seat.

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7:15 a.m.

The counting will resume for two top races that remain too close to call in New Hampshire's primaries.

In the governor's race, the Republican contest remained a tight battle between Executive Councilor Chris Sununu and state Rep. Frank Edelblut. Manchester Mayor Ted Gatsas, who was expected to place in the top two, and state Sen. Jeanie Forrester conceded defeat on Tuesday night.

It's also a close race in the 1st Congressional District between Republican U.S. Rep. Frank Guinta and primary challenger, Rich Ashooh. Guinta has struggled since last year, when the Federal Election Commission said he took illegal campaign donations from his parents.

Republicans were meeting Wednesday in Bedford at their annual postelection Unity Breakfast.